Les Murray Bra Boys

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Murray’s “Driving Through Sawmill towns’, “Spring Hail” and Sean Doherty’s “Bra Boys” biography explores multiple themes of identity. The three texts explored are both linked to identity, showing isolation, a sense of community and finally belonging. This is done by the use of a variety of techniques and language features. The issue of isolating is explored in Murray’s “driving through sawmill towns” by showing the loneliness of the towns people in which the poem is set. This is portrayed through the quote “Evenings are very quiet, all round the forest is there”. The technique used is personification, by giving the forest human qualities, showing that there is no one else only the forest smothering the town’s people. This links the issue of isolation that is also shown in Sean Doherty’s “Bra Boys”. Similarly in Sean Doherty’s “Bra Boys” there is a sense of isolation, from the gang being separated from the broader community. This is shown through the quote “we are not like them, we are different, they wouldn’t understand”. This quote represents that they are seen as outcasts to the wider community. They are one group looked down upon. It also uses the technique of stereo-types, the quote says “we are not like them”. This shows that the gang sees the community as a whole as one. Yet possibly only some of the community frown upon their actions. This common theme of isolation also reoccurs in the text. The isolation is further shown through the connection from the boys to the beach. “The beach has been parents to many boys from Maroubra, it has saved many boys lives”. The technique used is also personification, giving the ocean human qualities, a father like figure to many boys from Maroubra. The sense of isolation is further explored as they don’t feel a valued part of the Maroubra community. They are isolated to the beach, this has connections to Murray’s “Spring
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